"I still can't believe you got me this piano, Shadow!" shouted out Dr. Robotnik as he stared at the recently-arrived Steinway grand piano in the corner of the apartment, "What a beauty!"
It had cost Shadow a small fortune. As in, more than what a new car would normally cost. But it was bigger than he had expected and took up a lot of space in his apartment. He wasn't even sure how the people who delivered it got it to fit through the door. He silently regretted his purchase and wished he had bought a slightly smaller one for his new roommate.
"You know, this piano is the most wonderful gift anyone has been thoughtful enough to give me!" said Dr. Robotnik, a tear shedding from his eye, "I'll forever be in your debt, Shadow. I sure am a lucky man! I can't wait to play it!"
"Don't mention it," said Shadow, nonchalant, "By the way… didn't you promise me something if I successfully robbed the bank?"
"What's that?" said Dr. Robotnik, playing dumb.
"You promised me a gold-plated AK-47… did you not?" said Shadow.
"Oh, yeah, about that…" started Dr. Robotnik, "I just told you that to get you to rob the bank."
"Why…" started Shadow, his blood boiling, "You mean you had no intention of staying true to your word?"
"Nope," said Dr. Robotnik, shrugging.
"You bastard!" shouted out Shadow, "You manipulated me!"
"I suppose I did," said Dr. Robotnik, "But look. We're filthy rich!"
"Hmm," said Shadow.
"You should be thanking me," said Dr. Robotnik.
An uncomfortable silence impregnated the air.
"Very well," said Shadow finally, "My Amazon order should be arriving today. Then we can get started with your first YouTube video."
"What will it be?" eagerly replied Dr. Robotnik, "A music video? Or perhaps an unplugged piano performance with the new Steinway?"
"Actually…" started out Shadow, "I was thinking that, as opposed to diving straight into music, we start out with a public apology."
"What?" exclaimed Dr. Robotnik, "An apology for what?"
"For almost causing the end of the world, you dunce!" shouted Shadow.
"Oh, yeah…" said Dr. Robotnik, "I guess that would make me look good."
"Yes, it would," said Shadow, "But you have to be sincere about it."
"What, you want me to cry in front of the camera?" said Dr. Robotnik.
"Exactly," said Shadow, "The world needs to see you vulnerable. The world needs to see you as… human."
"Forget it!" said Dr. Robotnik, "I'm not putting on a show. Let's just stick to music!"
"Remember what I told you?" said Shadow, "The Internet is a battleground for people's attention. A public apology is the last thing people are expecting from you. It will be something people have to see with their own eyes to believe. And our views will go through the roof! Trust me."
After about fifteen minutes of bickering between the two, Dr. Robotnik realized he had lost the argument.
"Fine," he said, "But can we get to making music after that?"
"Of course," said Shadow, a wry smirk on his face, "I'll start writing the script. In the meantime, why don't you try out that piano you've been dying to play?"
"Oh, goody!" shouted out Dr. Robotnik, as he rushed to the piano. He proceeded to flawlessly play Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata while Shadow took out his Macbook Pro and started hammering out the script.